Robby Pettushttp://northsidesun.com/taxonomy/term/226/0
enJewish tolerance much greater than Palestinianshttp://northsidesun.com/columns-editorials/jewish-tolerance-much-greater-palestinians
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://northsidesun.com/sites/northsidesun.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/Robby-Pettus_0.jpg?itok=-3nDnP8Y" width="576" height="288" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>My family and I recently took my dream of a lifetime vacation. It was to the Holy Land of Israel and the West Bank. While I was concerned about our safety with the present political instability in the region, the trip proved to be a true blessing for us all. The trip only solidified my support for the Jewish State and its right to exist. This thought is considered an apostasy to Muslim and Arab states and its supporters. As a Christian, I believe Israel’s right to statehood is Biblical. From their Father Abraham to Moses and the kingdom years of David and Soloman, God promised the Jews a homeland. This same Abraham is a Father to the Arabs and their predominantly Muslim religion. He made provisions for these peoples as well. In fact, the State of Israel is made up of approximately a little over 8,000 square miles, basically the size of our state of New Jersey. Conversely, Arab and Muslim controlled areas of the Middle East cover over 3.5 million square miles or roughly 90 percent of the area of the mainland United States! In terms of land only, who has the better bargain?</p>
<p>From a political and social standpoint, I offer the following. Jews have existed in the Holy Land for well over 5,000 years. Jewish conquerors have included the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Caliphates, Ottoman Turks and the British among others. All have recognized, in some form, the rights of Jews to live in the Holy Land. In fact, almost all of these have allowed some measure of Jewish autonomy and right to exist.</p>
<p>I would like to offer a few facts and comments to those who disagree with me on Israel’s right as a state and the Palestinian/Pan-Arab opposition to it. Israel has always supported a two state solution. In 1947, the UN voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine into two separate countries. One for the Jews and one for the Palestinians. Jews accepted this policy, while the Palestinians refuse to accept it to this day. Israel’s enemies simply refuse to accept a Jewish State in any form in the Holy Land. Israel is continually under attack from its Arab neighbors. Every Jewish child is well versed in sirens, rockets and terroristic attacks against its citizens on a daily basis. Israel doesn’t attack neighboring countries in an effort to annihilate a state, only as defensive maneuvers to protect its citizens. Their pre-emptive attack in the “6 Day War” of 1967 where Israel gained much territory in the West Bank, Gaza and Sinai probably saved its sovereignty as a nation. Even after gaining these territories, Israel has agreed to return 97 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinians in exchange for peace. Again, the Palestinians have refused.</p>
<p> In Israel, a person is free to choose their own pursuit of happiness or religion. One could worship Jehovah, Allah, Satan or nothing. The same could never be said of the Palestinians. In fact, my family was harassed while visiting the Temple Mount by Palestinian-Muslim watchmen. While the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount is under Jewish authority, they allow Muslim autonomy and religious worship as they see fit. A Christian or Jew, however, is strictly forbidden to pray on the Temple Mount. The Palestinian Authority teaches its children that there was never a Jewish Temple there. They teach that it’s all just a Judeo-Christian lie! Again, who’s fair and righteous in this example?</p>
<p> Palestinians are treated worse by their Arab brothers than by the Jews. Eighteen percent of Israel’s citizens are Palestinians, who live there with all rights and privileges that go along with citizenship. They can vote, own a business and worship the same as a Jew. Do you think a Jew is afforded the same courtesy in Gaza? Of course not, a Jew would probably be killed on sight if they showed up there. A Palestinian finds it virtually impossible to gain citizenship and rights in countries ruled by their Arab brothers such as Jordan, Syria or Egypt. I could go on and on the inconsistencies fed to us by most media today. I ask that you simply research and learn the true facts for yourself. And further, if given the chance to visit there, by all means do so. It will be your trip of a lifetime too.</p>
<p>Robby Pettus is a Northsider.</p>
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